Washboard clamp



Oct. 27, 1942. s, RADQQ 2,300,175

WASHBOARD CLAMP Filed April 3. 1941 gwumbo'a Myri l 5; Ha aer PatentedOct. 27, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,300,175 WASHBOARD CLAMPMyrtle S.Rader, Centralia, Ill.

Application Atpril 3, 1941, Serial No. 386,717

4 Claims.

, This invention relates to a novel clamp attachment for washboards andmore particularly to an attachment including one or a plurality of clampelements disposed on the back side of the upper portion of aconventional washboard which are adaptedto engage the outer side of awall of a tub, beneath the tub rim, for releasably holding the washboardin adjusted positions in the tub.

More particularly, it is an aim of the inven tion to provide a faceplate having fastenings for securing it across the upper portion of theback side of a washboard and to which one or a plurality of springclamps are connected and which spring clamps are adapted to releasablyand yieldably engage the outer side of a tub wall for securing thewashboard on the inner side thereof and in an adjusted position withinthe tub.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a spring clamp having aportion shaped to engage under the rim of a tub and forming a fulcrumtherewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter becomemore fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, whichillustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of the back side of a conventionalwashboard with the attachment applied thereto,

Figure 2 is an edge view in elevation of the same,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view, partly inelevation, showing a portion of a wash tub, a portion of the washboardand the clamp attachment mounted on the board and engaging the tub, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the attachment providedwith a single clamp for use on smaller sizes of washboards.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, I designates generally a portion of a conventional washtub having an upwardly and outwardly sloping side H which is provided atits top with a rim or beading I2; and I3 designates generally a portionof a conventional washboard. These parts are of conventionalconstruction and form no part of the invention but are illustrated anddescribed merely for the purpose of illustrating the application of theinvention, designated generally I4.

The invention I4 comprises a clamp attachmerit for washboards and, inthe embodiment thereof as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, includes anelongated plate I5 of a length substantially equal to the width of thewashboard I3 and which is disposed across the back side thereof andadjacent the upper edge of the washboard I3 and which is attachedthereto, adjacent the ends of the strip or plate I5 by means of nut andbolt fastenings I6.

The attachment I I also includes a pair of clamp elements, eachdesignated generally I61: and which are of corresponding construction.Each of the clamp elements I6a is provided adjacent its upper end with arecess H which opens outwardly of its inner side. An expansion coilspring I8 has one end suitably secured in the recess I1 and its oppositeend suitably secured to the outer side of the plate I5. Each of theclamp elements IGa, as best illustrated in Figure 1, extends downwardlysubstantially below the plate I5 and is disposed laterally thereof. Theclamp elements Ifia are each provided with a reduced portion on itsinner side, designated I9, which extends from its upper end to adjacentits lower end. Below the reduced portion I9, the clamp element I6a isprovided with an inner side portion 20 the upper end of which combineswith the lower curved end of the restricted portion I9 to form a hookshaped portion 2|. The clamp element Ilia, at its lower end, is providedwith an upwardly and inwardly inclined inwardly bowed portion 22. Asseen in Figure l, the clamp elements I6a are provided with lower ends 23which are reduced in width.

The clamp elements I6a are disposed in spaced apart relationship to oneanother and in spaced apart relationship to the ends of the plate I5 andthe side edges of the washboard I3.

To apply the washboard I3 to the tub ID, the washboard is inserted intothe tub with its upper end projecting therefrom and disposed over theside II. The two clamp elements IBa are then grasped, with theiindexfingers engaging the portions 22, which form finger holds, and thethumbs pressing against the outer sides of the upper ends of the clampelements Ilia. It will be apparent, that an inward pressure with thethumbs and an outward pull with the index fingers will cause the lowerends 23 of the clamp elements Ifia to be moved away from the washboardI3 so that the clamps I6a can be positioned on the outer side of thewall II with their hook portions 2| engaging under the rim or beadingI2. The hook portions 2| by engagement with the rim I2 will formfulcrums for the clamps Ilia so that when they are released the springsI 8 will force the upper ends of the clamps 16a outwardly causing theirlower ends to be swung inwardly toward the wall ll so that the innerface portions 20 will engage the outer side of the wall II directlybeneath the rim I2. It will be noted that the portions 20 are inclinedto conform to the inclination of the wall I I when the clamps |6a are intheir normal, clamping positions so as to engage flush thereagainst. Theclamps [6a hold the back side of the washboard l3 in tight engagementagainst the front, inner side of the wall I I to prevent the washboardfrom moving relatively to the tub l0. It will likewise be obvious thatan inward pressure on the upper end of each of the clamps Ilia combinedwith an outward pull on the lower ends of the clamps will readilyrelease them from engagement with the rim I2 so that the washboard l3can be removed from the tub I0.

In Figure 4, an attachment I4 is illustrated, and which is adapted foruse on a small size washboard l3 and which is identical in all respectsto the attachment l4 except that the attachment I4 is provided with asingle clamp element I B which is disposed intermediate of the ends ofthe plate l5.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and mayobviously be resorted to as only preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been disclosed.

I claim as my invention: 1. An attachment for washboards comprising anelongated clamp member, the inner side of said clamp member, adjacentitsupper end, being reduced, a recess formed in said reduced portion andopening outwardly thereof, adjacent the upper end of the clamp, anexpansion coil spring having one end secured in said recess and itsopposite end secured to the back side of the upper portion of awashboard, said inner side of the clamp being provided with a hookportion formed by the lower end of said reduced portion and adapted toengage under the rim of a tub and forming therewith a fulcrum to causethe lower portion of the clamp to engage against the outer side of thetub for holding the washboard in an adjusted position therein.

2. An attachment as in claim 1, said clamp element having an inner side,disposed below said hook portion and inclined to correspond to theinclination of the wall of the tub for engaging flush thereagainst.

3. A device as in claim 1, said clamp element being provided with anupwardly and inwardly curved lower end, forming a finger grip, adaptedto be engaged by the finger for moving the clamp to a released position.

4. An attachment as in claim 1, in which the securing means comprises aplate disposed across the back side of the upper portion of thewashboard, fastenings for clamping said plate to the washboard, and saidspring being secured at its last mentioned end to the outer side of saidplate for connecting said end to the washboard.

MYRTLE S. RADER.

